Pentagon praises Canada for boosting training troops in Iraq

WASHINGTON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Monday praised
Canada's decision to triple the number of troops training
Kurdish forces in Iraq.

Canada will end its bombing missions by Feb. 22 but keep two
surveillance planes in the region as well as refueling aircraft,
and triple the number of soldiers training Kurdish troops in
northern Iraq to about 200 from about 70 currently, the
government said on Monday.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the decision by Canada
added "momentum to the effort" ahead of key talks among defense
ministers in Brussels to be held this week on ways to accelerate
the campaign against Islamic State.
(Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Eric Walsh)